The Political Bridge

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: Projected Problems with State Budgets for FYs 2010-2011

The State Journal Profiles the Litigation Over Attorney General Conway's Opinion concerning the Kentucky Retirement System Board's Election

Frankfort, KY

In 2008, the General Assembly passed a law that limits the number of consecutive terms a member can serve to three. Previous rules capped term limits at five.

In 2009, Attorney General Jack Conway issued an opinion that said the new term limits are not retroactive and Henson could serve five consecutive four-year terms.

However, Shepherd said he is not bound by Conway’s opinion and Powell has raised a “substantial question” about Henson’s ability to seek a fourth term.

Louisville Leaders Endorse Dr Dan Mongiardo(D-KY) for U.S. Senate

NEWS RELEASE

February 20, 2010
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

         Contact: Kim Geveden
(502) 682-2010
[email protected]

Annette Lee
(502) 498-4008x230
[email protected]

 

Supporters Include All Four Jefferson County Democratic State Senators,
House Speaker Pro-Tem, Louisville’s Longest Serving Legislator,
Four Metro Council Members, Mayor of Shively, Louisville Labor Leaders, Women Activists & four of Jefferson County’s Previous Dem. Party Chairs

 

 

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FRANKFORT – In an impressive display of political strength in his Primary opponent’s backyard, Lt. Governor and Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Daniel Mongiardo announced today that he has received public endorsements from 50 influential local and state legislators, community leaders, labor officials and political activists in Louisville / Jefferson County.

Political leaders from Louisville announcing their support for Mongiardo include Louisville’s highest ranking state representative, House Speaker Pro-Tem Larry Clark, 100% of all Democratic State Senators serving Jefferson County – Denise Harper Angel, Perry Clark, Gerald Neal and Tim Shaughnessy, as well as Louisville’s longest serving legislator, House Health & Welfare Committee Chair, State Representative Tom Burch.

Local elected officials publicly endorsing Mongiardo include Shively Mayor Sherry Conner and Louisville-Metro Council members – Dan Johnson, Judith Greene, Barbara Shanklin and Brent Ackerson.  

Mongiardo’s public endorsements include four of Jefferson County’s previous Democratic Party (JCDP) Chairs.  In addition to House Speaker Pro-Tem Larry Clark, other JCDP Chairs include *Tim Longmeyer, Steve Horner and Melvin Ratchford.  

Mongiardo said, “I am grateful and honored to have the support of so many community leaders and grassroots activists from Louisville.  These are the people who work hard every day to make a difference in their community and improve the lives of those they serve.  Their willingness to publicly stand with me sends a strong and clear message to every Kentucky voter and political observers everywhere that we have a true statewide grassroots organization that is strongly positioned to contest for every vote in every county of our Commonwealth – including Louisville/Jefferson County.”

Other community leaders and political activists from Louisville/Jefferson County publicly endorsing Mongiardo include:

Margaret Harris – President, Kentucky Women’s Political Caucus
David Karem – Former State Senator and Democratic Leader of the KY State Senate
Eleanor Jordan – Former State Representative and Dem. nominee for U.S. Congress
Danny Ross – Former Senior Advisor to Governor Paul Patton and Retired Labor Leader
Greg Reddington –Former Senior Assistant to Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson
Larry Bond – Former Chief of Staff – Jefferson Co. Judge Executive Dave Armstrong
Virginia Woodward – Former Executive Director, Kentucky Commission on Women
Larry O’Bryan – Democratic Strategist and Political Consultant
Robert Holmes III – Community Youth Organizer and Lou/Jefferson African-American Coordinator for Mongiardo Campaign
*Clarence Yancey – JCDP, 43rd Legislative District Chairman and community activist
*Bill Johnson – JCDP, 42nd Legislative District At-Large Member and Labor Activist
Aaron Horner – Former Campaign Manager – Cong. John Yarmuth’s 2006 Campaign
Lisa Tanner – Former Field Director – Congressman Yarmuth’s 2008 Campaign
Sandy Berman – Attorney and AIPAC activist
Chris Tobe – Financial Consultant
Nikki Jackson – Business Woman / Attorney
Dave Swindler - Businessman & Avid Sportsman
Alex Clements - Jefferson County ‘B’ District Commissioner
Roger Baum – Business Manager, UA Local 502
Bill Finn – Business Manager, IBEW Local 369
Lawrence Winburn – Business Manager, LIUNA Local 576
John Brothers – District Rep, IUOE Local 181
David ‘Doc’ Gahafer – Business Agent, Road Sprinkler Fitters Local 669
Curtis Stratton – Business Manager, IBEW Local 2100
Ray Crider – Retired, National AFL-CIO Political Department and Democratic activist
Marilyn Crider – Democratic Party activist
George Boyd – Machinist & Board Member, Greater Louisville Central Labor Council
Frank Leidermann – Democratic Activist and Democratic Consultant
*Allison Newman-Amon – Vice Chair, JCDP
Jeff Barr – 32nd LD Coordinator for Mongiardo Campaign
Bobbi Jo Weber – Former President of Lou/Metro Women’s Political Caucus / Business Owner
*John Crawford – JCDP 40th Legislative District Chair
Bill Herron - Democratic Activist and 41st LD Coordinator for Mongiardo Campaign
*Pamela Osborne – JCDP 42nd LD Vice Chair
*Stephen Fein – JCDP 44th Legislative District Chair
*John Sommer – JCDP 46th Legislative District Chair

 

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*Any endorsement by a current Jefferson County Democratic Party (JCDP) official is a reflection of his/her personal view and not as a JCDP official.

 

Jack Conway(D-KY) Candidate for U.S. Senate Focuses on Economic Growth In Speech To Harlan Rotary Club

 

For Immediate Release

 

Contact: Allison Haley

February 24, 2010

 

Office Phone: 502-632-1820

www.jackconway.org

 

Mobile Phone: 859-539-5430

 

 

[email protected]

 

 

HARLAN - In a speech before the Harlan County Rotary Club, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jack Conway, today reinforced his focus on job creation and the needs of people in the Commonwealth.

The event kicked off Conway's second trip to Eastern Kentucky since January.

If elected Conway vowed to work across party lines, to ensure Kentucky's interests are represented in Washington.

"I am committed to making sure all parts of the Commonwealth share in Kentucky's future economic growth. That is why it is a critical part of my strategy to secure our fair share of federal transportation funding for infrastructure like roads, bridges, and railroad lines," Conway said. "Creating a more integrated transportation system leads to economic growth because it creates jobs, allows for a boost in the tourism industry and helps small businesses."

Conway also spoke to the crowd about his commitment to ensuring the coal industry continues to thrive.

"The coal industry provides good jobs and affordable energy to thousands of folks all across the Commonwealth. Coal is a valuable resource and that is why I am on record in opposition to cap and trade legislation, which threatens the industry, and why I will fight to support investments in research and development of coal technology to ensure its place in our nation's future," Conway said.

Following his visit with the Rotarians, Conway continues his visit in Eastern Kentucky and on Wednesday will unveil another facet of his policy to create jobs and restore fiscal responsibility and accountability to Washington.

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Paid For By Conway For US Senate

Conway For US Senate - PO Box 6168 Louisville KY 40206 - [email protected]

Democratic Candidate for U.S. Senate In KY, Jack Conway Unveils Plan to Hold Wall Street Accountable

 

 

For Immediate Release

 

Contact: Allison Haley

February 24, 2010

 

Office Phone: 502-632-1820

www.jackconway.org

 

Mobile Phone: 859-539-5430

 

 

[email protected]

HAZARD - While visiting Eastern Kentucky, Jack Conway, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, today unveiled another facet of his policy to create jobs and restore fiscal responsibility and accountability to Washington.Conway spoke about how critical it is to outlaw offshore tax havens in order to help improve economic conditions in our state and our nation.

Eighty-three of the nation's 100 largest companies have offshore tax shelters. Those companies include Wall Street banks like Citigroup and Morgan Stanley, which received taxpayer-funded bailout money. In fact, nearly every major TARP recipient has offshore tax shelters.

"Under the current corporate tax system, in general the bigger you are, the less you end up paying - that isn't fair to working men and women who pay their taxes," Conway said.

Conway's plan calls on Congress to:

-Pass legislation eliminating the U.S. deductions on foreign corporate income and interest so that American taxpayers are not subsidizing investment abroad.

-Shut down offshore tax havens by passing legislation similar to what Sen. Carl Levin has proposed in the Stop Tax Haven Abuse Act, which would effectively declare that all designated tax havens should be treated as if they are within the United States for purposes of tax law.

-Together, these initiatives could save taxpayers as much as $130 billion over 10 years - money that can be used to create jobs and reduce the federal deficit.

A 2008 study by the Government Accounting Office found that 25 percent of large U.S. corporations paid zero corporate income tax in 2005 - the most recent year statistics were available.

"This just isn't right and it's another reason why Washington is not working for Kentuckians. Our tax dollars should not be subsidizing American companies to operate overseas and avoid paying U.S. Taxes," Conway said. "If I am fortunate to be elected to the United States Senate, I will restore accountability and make sure Wall Street is paying its fair share."

The Mongiardo(D-KY) Campaign for U.S. Senate Notes that Its Primary Opponent Jack Conway Says One Thing To City and and Another to Rural Voters

NEWS RELEASE

February 24, 2010
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

         Contact: Kim Geveden
(502) 682-2010
[email protected]

Annette Lee
(502) 498-4008x230
[email protected]

 

 

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FRANKFORT – Upon learning of remarks made by Attorney General Jack Conway before the Harlan County Rotary Club in rural eastern Kentucky yesterday, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Daniel Mongiardo’s campaign spokesman Kim Geveden said, “If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, we are very flattered that Jack Conway has adopted Dr. Mongiardo’s Kentucky specific jobs plan relating to coal and transportation as his own.  The question for Kentucky voters now is, which is the real Jack Conway? 

“Jack Conway has perfected the Washington two-step—saying different things to different voters. Whatever ‘City Jack’ says or does, ‘Country Jack’ says or does the opposite.  It is hard enough for us to keep up with all of Jack’s flip-flops, I can only imagine how difficult it must be for Kentucky voters,” Geveden said.

Geveden pointed to Conway’s speech before the Harlan County Rotary Club as the latest example.   In his speech "Country Jack" said, "Creating a more integrated transportation system, leads to economic growth because it creates jobs ..."

Three months ago, when Mongiardo proposed an integrated transportation plan as part of his overall Kentucky jobs plan at Louisville’s Old Union Station, a proposal that specifically called for including improving rail in Kentucky, "City Jack" dismissed it as "unrealistic."

In his speech yesterday, "Country Jack" said, "Coal is a valuable resource and that is why I am on record in opposition to cap and trade legislation, which threatens the industry …"

However, eight months ago, "City Jack" was on record supporting "Cap and Trade" legislation.

"Country Jack" said, he would also "fight to support investments in research and development of coal technology to ensure its place in our nation's future."

However, just days before launching his campaign for U.S. Senate, "City Jack"  invested millions of dollars in a Texas natural gas company whose CEO advocates for replacing coal with natural gas and says investing in new coal technology is a "waste" of tax payer money.

Throughout 2009, "City Jack" bragged, “I am the candidate preferred by the  national Democratic Party" but now, "Country Jack" claims he is an “independent-minded Democrat who’ll take on Washington establishment.”

Geveden said, “Until a recent shift in the political winds, Jack Conway bragged endlessly about being the candidate of the Washington establishment, supported by the National Democratic Party. Now, he’s singing a different tune, but there are already plenty of silver spoon establishment politicians like Jack Conway in the Senate who have perfected the art of double speak.  It’s one of the biggest reasons why our country is in the shape it’s in.  Sending another establishment insider like Jack Conway to the Senate is not going to do a thing to change the culture in Washington."

"As the product of a rural working class family, Kentuckians know Daniel Mongiardo understands the challenges and economic hardships they are going through.  Kentucky voters trust Daniel to represent their interests and values.  They trust him to take on the entrenched special interests and establishment insiders and fight to change the culture in Washington," Geveden added.

KY House Bill 426 Would Provide the Attorney General With Considerable Influence on Matters Pertaining to the Kentucky Retirement Systems

HB 426 (BR 29) - J. Tilley

 AN ACT relating to retirement.
Amend KRS 61.645 and 161.250 to require the boards of the Kentucky Retirement Systems and the Kentucky Teachers' Retirement System to establish a securities litigation policy; require the policy to include: processes for identifying and assessing the value of claims, guidelines for evaluating whether the systems should pursue litigation including establishing a working group comprised of the Attorney General and representatives from the systems to evaluate and make recommendations on potential claims to the board, authority for the Attorney General to submit a separate recommendation to the boards, procedures for selecting an evaluation counsel and a litigation counsel to review and litigate cases, authorization for the working group to establish policies to deal with potential conflicts of interest, processes for sharing information on securities litigation with the Kentucky Teachers' Retirement System; exempt the working group meetings from open meetings laws; require the boards to review potential conflicts of interest that may involve a member of the working group and a potential vendor; amend KRS 11A.010 to add members of the working group to the definition of an "officer" under the Executive Branch Code of Ethics if the members are employees of an agency subject to the Executive Branch Code of Ethics.

 Feb 12-introduced in House

Forbes Profiles a Proposed KY House Bill Concerning the Kentucky Retirement System

KY HB 146 featured in FORBES article

"In Kentucky a proposal has been floated that would require two of the three members appointed by the governor to the Kentucky Retirement Systems board to possess 10 years of "investment experience." Defining what constitutes "investment experience" apparently is contentious. If passed, the new requirement would be one of the few of its kind. "

Franklin Circuit Court Ruling on Litigation Concerning the Kentucky Retirement System

To see this ruling click: Download FranklinCircuitRuling

 

This is the first order in the case.  Please note last paragraph in the order.  It is unknown when the final judgment will be issued.

Once upon a Time in America by DrTeds

When my late Grandfather turned 80 back in 72, we threw him a dinner party.  Around that dinner table were Workmen Circle buds of my Grandparents.  

As was my grandfather’s custom at such dinners, he made a long and boring (to me) speech. This speech ended with a toast to Golda America—the most wonderful Country ever.

This toast floored me. These old union activists were toasting an America that had Richard Nixon as President. It was an America mired in Vietnam, with a government that was not friendly to unions and working people. It was America in which equal rights were denied for a majority of its citizens.

It was America to be changed; not to be cherished.

Maybe these old folks had a touch or more of senility. After all, they did like their heavy Jewish food and their schnapps. They rarely exercised.

 As I aged, I realized that it was a Gold America to my Grandfather and his cohorts.

They came from the old country for freedom’s sake.  They wanted to be free of governmental, economic and religious shackles.

And, they did become free of these shackles.  Oh, did they ever.

 None of them ever suffered persecution or bodily harm because of their religious beliefs or lack of.

None of them were jailed for their political views, speech, or activities, which, at times, were in opposition to the government.

Their children rose in social and economic standing.

Their children went to some of the finest universities in America.

America prospered and become more equitable during these old radicals’ lifetimes.  Oh, did it ever.

When my grandfather gave the Golda America toast, America was the richest country per capita, per gross national product, per everything in the world’s history.

America was the leading cultural, technological and manufacturing force in the world.   If it wasn’t made or created in America, you would have trouble finding it anywhere.

America was a great society, with a burgeoning safety net for its less fortunate citizens.

America had the finest public libraries and educational systems in the world.

Liberalism had reached its apogee in America.  Unions were strong; the Clean Air Act and other social/economic program were just enacted; national health care was close at hand.

 Once upon a time, there was a “Golda America.”